Well-drilling rig



May 13, 1930. T. M. WILKINS WELL DRILLING RIG Original Filed Dec. 16, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l Zlwventov THOMAS M. WILKIN$ y 13, T. M. WILKINSI 1,758,728

WELL DRILLING RIG Original Filed Dec. 16, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 5 7 5 s 74 F|G.4. 26 3a. THOMAS M.WILKINS May 13, 1930. T. M. WILKINS 1,758,728 4 WELL DRILLING RIG Original Filed Dec. 16. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 .THOMAS M. WILKINS Patented May 13, 1930 EFF. STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS M. WILKINS, OF SUGAR GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALLEN FALGONER, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK WELL-DRILLING RIG Application filed December 16, 1926, Serial No. 155,173. Renewed March 6, 1930.

necessity of reversing the direction of movement of the motor or other prime mover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a well drilling rig in which the tools drop freely without exerting any drag upon the prime mover, and in which, moreover the drop of the tools builds up so much momentum in the fly wheel that they are in a large part raised thereby, thus reducing the amount of power required from the prime mover.

A further object of this invention is to provide a well drilling rig which includes a roller drive, bet-ween a driving element and a driven element, so constructed that the driving element can be shifted, and the direction of movement of the driven element be reversed without reversing the direction of movement of the prime mover.

A further object of this invention is to provide a roller drive mechanism, by which, at

the starting of the drilling operation, the tools are automatically raised, and then allowed to fall under their own weight without the necessity of accelerating the move- 5 ment of the driving means, or disconnecting any gear mechanism.

Other objects of this invention will appar from a consideration of the following deu scription, taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rig shown 15 in Figure 1;

Fig.3 is a plan View of the rig;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along the line l4= of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the 5 line 55 of Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 2;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged View illustrating a portion of the bailer operating mechanism;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the drum on which the bailer operating cable is mounted Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 of the positive driving mechanism for the drilling operation;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section of such mechanism Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a portion of the rig, illustrating the preparation of the clutch member to act as a supporting member for the frame;

Fig. 13 is an end view of this construction; anc

Fig. 1 1 is a sectional view illustrating the relationship between the clutch member and the beam, by means of which the rig can be moved a short distance.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 20 is employed to designate a frame, which comprises side members 21 connected by a front member 22, and by cross bars 23, suitably secured to the inner walls of the side members 21, as by means of brackets 24. Supported upon the cross bars 23 are bars 25, the bars 23 and 25 comprising a,platform on which a gasoline motor or other prime mover can be supported. Extending across the frame 20 is a shaft 26, which is suitably supported in bearings 27, mounted in the side members 21.

At one end 28 of the shaft 26 is mounted a fly wheel 30, and on the shaft between the side members 21 is mounted a driving wheel 31, fixed against rotation relative to the shaft by a key 32. The portion of the shaft 26 at each side of the driving wheel 31 is provided with threads 33 and 34, both being left hand.

Mounted on the shaft is a reel 35, which is free to move thereover, and which is provided at the end adjacent the driving wheel 31 with internal threads 36. On the flange 37 of the reel 35, adjacent the driving wheel 31, is provided a radially projecting finger 38, which, under certain conditions, as will be described later, engage a pin 39 fixed on the side of the driving wheel. he reel 35 carries the cable, to which the drilling tools are attached, and hence, in drilling parlance, is known as the bull reel, which term will be used hereinafter.

On the shaft 26, at the other side of the driving wheel 31, is mounted spool 40, which like the reel 35 is free to move thereover, and is internally threaded at 41 to engage the threads 34 on the shaft. The spool is also provided with a radially projecting finger 42, which, under certain conditions, engages a pin 43 on the driving wheel 31.

The drivin wheel 31 is provided Wlbh side flanges 44, 40. Through the flange 45 are formed a plurality of holes, by means of which an arcuate strip 46 is adjustably secured to the inner face of the flange. The driving wheel 31 is operated by means of a roller 47, carried at the outer end of a shaft 48 driven by means of the prime mover, not shown, which is mounted upon the platform. The shaft 48 passes transversely through a bar 49, being supported by a bearing 50, as shown in Figure 5. The portion of the shaft 48 between the bearing 50 and the wheel 47 may be surrounded by a sleeve 51.

.The bar 49 is supported upon the side members 21, and is capable of longitudinal movement thereover. In order to hold the bar 49 in its proper position, a slot 52 is formed in the rear face thereof, into which slot extends a cross piece 53. The slot 52 is so located that the cross piece 53 rests upon the side member 21, and is rigidly secured thereto, and is appreciably larger than the cross piece 53 to permit free longitudinal movement of the bar 49. In order to hold the bar 49 in its proper relation to the cross piece 53, blocks 54 are provided, which bear against the outer face of the bar 49.

The shaft 48 includes a universal joint 55, so that the longitudinal movement of the bar 49 can shift the shaft 48 transversely without affecting its connection with the prime mover. The bar 49 is shifted by means of a rod 56, which passes through one of the blocks 54, and terminates in a pocket 57 in the bar 49. Mounted upon the end of the rod 56, within the pocket 57, is a cam 58, (see Figure 7). At the outer end of the rod 56 is sccured a handle 59, by which the rod can be rotated, turning the cam 58 and thus shifting the bar 49 across the frame 20. in order to hold the handle 59 in its proper position a segment 60'is provided on the front member 22.

Rigidly fixed to the inner faces of the side members 21 is a cross rod 61, on which is eccentrically mounted an axle 62. The axle 62 carries a roller 63 and a reel 64, both of which members are rigidly secured together, and are. free to rotate as a unit on the axle 62.

Projecting upwardly from the axle 62 is an arm 65, to the upper end of which is connected a pull rod 66, which extends to the front of the frame. Rigidly secured to the side members 21 behind the shaft 62 is a bar 67, which may be mounted as shown in Figure 7 upon angle brackets 68. The roller 63 is thus between the drive wheel 31 and the bar 67, (see Figure 5). Hence when the rod 66 is pulled outwardly the roller 63 will be brought into contact with the driving wheel 31, but when the rod 66 is pushed back the roller 63 \ill be brought into contact with the driving wheel 31, but when the rod 66 is pushed back the roller 63 will strike against the cross bar 67 and be held against any further rotation. Suit-able collars or other means 69 are provided on the axle 62 for the purpose of pre venting any lateral shifting of the roller 63, and reel 64 on the axle. On the reel 64 is wound the cable to which the bailing tools are attached, and in the trade it is referred to as a sand reel, which term will be used hereinafter.

Mounted to oscillate in the frame 20 on the side members 21 is a bar 70, from which project radial parallel arms 71 connected by a cross rod 7 2. On the bar 70 between the arms 71 is mounted a loose pulley 73, while a similar loose pulley 74 is mounted upon the rod 72. Projecting radially downward from the bar 70 is an arm 75, to which is connected one end of a link 76. The other end of the link 76 surrounds an eccentric 77, formed on the spool 40.

Fixed to the front member 22 or supported directly on the ground, as may be desired, is a mast 78, suitably braced by guy wires 79, and having at its upper end a freely moveable pulley 80. A second pulley 81 is mounted at the side of the mast, being secured in place by means of a strap 82.

Rigidly fixed on one of the side members '21 is a post 83, which carries at its upper end a walking beam 84, pivotally supported at 85 on the post 83 in the usual manner. The walking beam 84 is oscillated by means of a link 86, pivotally secured at 87 to the end of the beam 84, and actuated by an arm 88, to which it is pivotally connected. The arm 88 is fixed to the end 28 of the shaft 26 opposite that to which the fly wheel 30 is secured.

ound upon the bull reel 35 is a cable 89, which passes over the pulley 73 under the pulley 74, and over the pulley 80 at the top of the mast 78. To the lower end of the cable 89 are secured the drilling tools or spudding gear, not shown, by which the well is drilled. Wound upon the sand reel 64 is a cable 90, which passes over the pulley 81, and to the lower end of which are connected the bailing tools, not shown.

Depending from the outer end of the walking beam 84 is a rod 91 having a suitable pivotal connection 92 with the beam 84. To

cable 89 descend.

the lower end of the rod 91 is secured suitable clamping means 93, by which the cable 89 may be connected to the walking beam 84 when desired.

ells are drilled by raising the drilling tools and allowing them to drop under their own weight. After the drilling has progressed about twelve feet the drilling tools are withdrawn and a bailer is inserted to remove the debris from the hole. The drilling is then continued, but with shorter strokes, and after every twenty feet the drilling tools are withdrawn and the bailer is again used. The drilling rig, to which this application is directechcarries out the above operation in the following manner:

The drilling tools are attached to the cable 89 which is wound on the bull reel 35. The roller 47 is shifted by means of the bar 49 into contact with tne flange 45 of the driving wheel 31. This rotates the driving wheel 31 in the clockwise position as viewed in Fig ure 1, and .by reason of the thread 34 causes the spool 40 to become secured to and driven by the wheel 31. The spool 40 through the eccentric 77 oscillates the rod 70, thus swinging the arms 71 and the pulley 74 upwardly and downwardly raising and lowering the cable 89.

The bull reel 35, on which the cable 89 is rolled, does not contact with the wheel 31 when it is rotated by the engagement of the roller 47 with the flange 45 and is consequently free to unwind as the tools on the This free movement of the reel 35 is controlled by a brake which comprises an upper bar 94, a lower bar 95 and a connecting pin 96. The outer flange 97 of the reel 35 is provided with an annular notch 98, with which the bars 94, 95 may engage, one above and the other below. The bar 95 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin 99 to one of the side members 21, while one end of the bar 94 is loosely pivoted on a vertical pin 100, (see Figure 3).

Obviously by pressing down on the outer end of the bar 94, the latter turns on the flange 97 as a fulcrum and by means of the pin 96 draws the bar 95 against the flange 97,

thus checking the rotation of the bull reel 35. In order to hold the brake bar 94 in any desired position, suitable securing means 101 is fixed upon the post 83.

Since the roller 47 engages only the strap 46 on the flange 45 of the wheel 31 it is obviously out of contact with the wheel 31 during the greater part of the revolution of the wheel. The strap 46 is so located on the flange 45 that the roller 47 positively rotates t 1e wheel 31 until the tools on the cable 89 have been raised by the depression of the arms 71. lVhen the roller 47 leaves the strap 46 the tools will drop under their own weight, raising the arms 71, and thus through the eccentric 77 and fly wheel carrying the wheel 31 ahead until the strap 46 again strikes the rotating roller 47 and the wheel 31 is positively actuated.

The momentum due to this action does not stop when the tools have reached the lowest point, but continues, so that as a matter of fact the tools are partly raised when the roller 47 again starts to raise them. Thus the drop of the tools does not drag on the prime mover, but actually assists it in raising them.

This initial or spudding operation, by means of the eccentric 77 and the arms 71, is carried on until a suitable depth has been reached. The tools are then raised by shifting the roller 47 into engagement with the flange 44 of the driving wheel 31. This causes the wheel to rotate anti-clockwise, as viewed from Figure 1, and consequently causes the spool 40, by reason of the direction of the threads 34, to move away from the driving wheel 31. The reel is then moved onto the threads 33 by swinging the bar 94 on the pin 100. The threads 33, engaging the threads 36, draw the bull reel 35 up to the wheel 31 until the pin 39 strikes the finger 38. r

The rotation of the bull reel 35 by the driving wheel 31 now raises the cable 89, the spool being no longer in engagement with the driving wheel. The arms 71 will take the upper position shown in Figure 1 and act solely to guide the cable. In this connection it may be pointed out that since the pulleys 73 and 74 are loosely mounted 1 upon the bar 7 O and rod 72, they will travel back and forth as the cable 89 is wound on the reel 35, to insure an even wind.

The tools having been raised out of the hole, the bailing operation follows. The bailing tools, which are secured to the end of the cable 90, are lowered into the hole by their own weight. The rod 66 is then drawn forward, bringing the roller 63 in contact with the wheel 31 and winding up the cable 90 on the sand reel 64 to raise the bailers. The rod 66 is pushed back enough to separate the roller 63 and the wheel 31 so that the bailers will drop again under their own weight. as necessary to remove the debris from the hole.

The spudding and bailing operations previously described are repeated until the hole is of a certain depth, usually about 150 feet. The clamp 93 on the walking beam 84 is then connected to the cable 89, and further drilling is by means of the beam 84. The shaft 48 is moved by the bar 49 until the roller 47 contacts with the strap 46 on ward the wheel 31 and to oppose this a groove This operation is repeated as often 103 is formed in the outer end of the spool, with which groove a hook or pin 104, pivotally mounted on the side member 21, engages to compress the spring 102 and to hold the spool away from the wheel 31 and prevent the threads 34 and 41 from coming into contact. The roller 47 has the intermittent contact with the driving wheel 31 previously described. The link 86 is connected to the arm 88 on the shaft 26, which arm is so placed that when the roller 47 leaves the strap 46 the arm is below the (lead center and the further movement of the wheel will be continued by the weight of the tools acting upon the walking beams 84. The weight of the tools gives such momentum to these rotating parts that when the roller 47 again engages the strap 46 the tools are on their upward travel.

The drilling operation by means of the walking beam is continued for a certain length of time, until bailing is necessary. The tools are then raised by disconnecting the clamp 93 and shifting the shaft 48 to bring the roller 47 into contact with the flange 44 of the driving wheel 31 and allowing the bull reel 35 to be operated by the driving wheel.

After the tools have been removed from the hole and the bailing operation has taken place, the tools are returned to the hole, the cable 89 is seized by the clamp 93 and the drilling operation under the impulse of the Walking beam 84 continues. The spool 40 is used only during the spudding operation, and hence if desired the cable 89 can be released from the pulley 74 by disconnecting the arms 71 from the rod 70. The cable 89 then passes directly from the reel 35 to the pulley 80 and is evenly wound on the reel by reason of the distance of the pulley from the reel.

These operations are repeated until the hole has beeen drilled to the desired depth. The fly wheel 30 is provided with suitable removable rings 105 in order to give the proper weight to assist the free movement of the driving wheel 31.

During the bailing operation the bull reel 35 is held away from the wheel 31 by the bar 94 fixed by the securing means 101. The sand reel is prevented from rotating by swinging the roller 63 against the bar 67. Both rollers 47 and 63 are provided with rubber tires, preferably pneumatic, to eliminate both slippage and noise.

In order to move the drilling rig from one place to another on the field the prime mover, by which the drilling operation takes place, may be called upon. In the front plate 22 of the frame is cut anotch 106, through which a timber may be inserted below the driving wheel 31. This timber may be the mast 78, as shown in Figure 14.

The mast rests,upo n the cylindrical portion 107 of the driving wheel, and consequently, when the roller 47 is brought into contact with the flange 44, the operation of the driving wheel will move the entire frame forward.

f the rig is to be moved any considerable distance annular angle plates 108 may be secured to the outer faces of the flanges 44 and 45. These plates, as shown particularly in Figures 12 and 13, increase the diameter of the driving wheel so that it will project below the side members 21, and by operating the prime mover the rig can be moved to any desired position. It will be understood of course that either the frame must be tilted so that it does not contact with the ground or else rollers (no shown) will be fixed to the frame.

Throughout the entire operation of the drilling rig the prime mover operates in one direction only, and at no time is it reversed. Moreover, as pointed out above, the actual drilling is done by the drop of the tools under their own weight and advantage is taken of this to reduce the amount of power required from the prime mover and also to store up the momentum due to the drop so that it will in part raise the tools again.

While one embodiment only of this invention has been shown and described, applicant is not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a well drilling rig, including drilling mechanism, spudding mechanism and bailing mechanism, a drive wheel for actuating said mechanisms, said wheel having a pair of flanges, a strip secured to a portion of the inner face of one of said flanges, and means adapted to engage the strip on one flange, for intermittently rotating said wheel positively in one direction during the drilling and spudding operations, and adapted to engage the other flange for continuously rotating said wheel positively in the opposite direction during the bailing operations.

2. In a well drilling rig, drilling mechanism, including means for raising the drilling tools, a driving wheel operating said means, said wheel having a flange, a strip secured to a portion of the inner face of said flange, a driving shaft, a roller on said shaft, said roller being free from said flange, but in con tact with said strip during a portion of the rotation of said wheel, whereby, when said roller is in contact with said strip, said wheel is driven thereby to operate said raising means, and when said roller is out of contact with said strip, said wheel is driven by the drop of said tools.

3. In a well drilling rig, drilling mechanism including a bull reel, a shaft on which said reel is slidably mounted, a driving wheel fixed on said shaft, means on said reel and said wheel by which said reel is driven when said reel and wheel are in contact, automatic means for bringing said reel into contact with said wheel when said wheel is driven in one direction, means operable by said wheel when driven in the opposite direction for raising the drilling tools and allowing them to drop under their own weight, and a driving shaft and roller foraotuating said wheel in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

THOMAS M. VILKINS. 

